Nutter t.KK
can Mega Evolve!
https://pokemongolive.com/en/post/32-bit-android-discontinued-support/
To put simply, this means many (mostly older) Android Devices will not longer be able to run Pokémon Go.
While Niantic are currently delaying the actual date when this is going to happen. This is see how much of the Android player base is on 64-bit Android devices.
So How can I tell if my Device is 32-bit or 64-bit?
First, if your Device was released before 2015, then it is 32-bit. This is because 2015 is roughly the year when 64-bit devices and 64-bit versions of Android came to the market. (Actually the Support came in late 2014 with Android Lolipop/5.0 which is the Minimum Pokémon Go supports. But there are 32-bit devices with M/6.0 running on it, such as Asus Nexus 7 2013.)
You can try and check your phones settings for a "About device" or something similar. Look (and occasionally Tap) for Android and Kernel. If you find some terms about 64 bit or something with "_64" on it. Then you've got a 64-bit device.
EDIT: The info on this following site is doesn't track the "Bit-ness" of your Devices OS, which is more important for running 64-bit software. --- Many sites will track which commonly used Phone and Tablets have what type of hardware installed. This site is one of them. https://www.devicespecifications.com/en Find your EXACT device. Scroll down to SOC, then find the entry called "CPU Bits" This will tell you if your hardware can support 64-bit software, but won't tell you which version Android you're running.
Finally, there is a App for this: CPU-Z https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cpuid.cpu_z&hl=en This needs to be installed in the device that you want to check. Once installed, check the System tab, and Kernel Architecture. Again, if it has 64 at the end, you're good. EDIT: Kernel the name of the part of the any OS software. It's primary purpose of it is to talk to your hardware, and is an important part of the OS software.
A guide that I based the above section on: https://www.addictivetips.com/android/check-android-device-is-64-bit-or-32-bit/
My Phone is 32-bit, Can I make it 64-bit?
Not really.
If your Device has 32-bit CPU/SOC, then definite No. The 32-bit/64-bit is actually physically part of the device. The only way to change it to use a new device.
For those with Motorola devices and any other device with the combination of a 64-bit CPU and a 32-bit Kernel/OS, could be updated with custom firmware. The replacement/custom firmware may be rare to find. and depending on the custom firmware update could result in a banned Pokémon Go account. I'd check sites like XDA. The process will wipe your device memory.
Can I keep with my old versions of the App?
As a Online game, Saldy no. You need to be on the latest or very recent update to play.
What about the Apple iPhone?
This was an Android update, So no known changes to the Apple devices at this time.
(iOS 11 or later, with iPhones 6S or later are 64-bit, if you need to check.)
Personal Thoughts
I was half expecting this to happen at some point in the life span of the app given that it's going as good as has been. As that almost all phones today are 64-bit, it's going to have to happen at soon. Personally, I think the writing has been on the wall for some time that this was going to happen, especially PCs took the change. Google has required all developers have a native 64-bit app for any new/updated apps since 2018.
Out of my small collection of Android devices, only 3 of them are 64-bit, and a few of the others can't support Pokémon Go today. (Most of the devices I own are older devices, and a few of them are tablets.)
To put simply, this means many (mostly older) Android Devices will not longer be able to run Pokémon Go.
While Niantic are currently delaying the actual date when this is going to happen. This is see how much of the Android player base is on 64-bit Android devices.
So How can I tell if my Device is 32-bit or 64-bit?
First, if your Device was released before 2015, then it is 32-bit. This is because 2015 is roughly the year when 64-bit devices and 64-bit versions of Android came to the market. (Actually the Support came in late 2014 with Android Lolipop/5.0 which is the Minimum Pokémon Go supports. But there are 32-bit devices with M/6.0 running on it, such as Asus Nexus 7 2013.)
You can try and check your phones settings for a "About device" or something similar. Look (and occasionally Tap) for Android and Kernel. If you find some terms about 64 bit or something with "_64" on it. Then you've got a 64-bit device.
EDIT: The info on this following site is doesn't track the "Bit-ness" of your Devices OS, which is more important for running 64-bit software. --- Many sites will track which commonly used Phone and Tablets have what type of hardware installed. This site is one of them. https://www.devicespecifications.com/en Find your EXACT device. Scroll down to SOC, then find the entry called "CPU Bits" This will tell you if your hardware can support 64-bit software, but won't tell you which version Android you're running.
Finally, there is a App for this: CPU-Z https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cpuid.cpu_z&hl=en This needs to be installed in the device that you want to check. Once installed, check the System tab, and Kernel Architecture. Again, if it has 64 at the end, you're good. EDIT: Kernel the name of the part of the any OS software. It's primary purpose of it is to talk to your hardware, and is an important part of the OS software.
A guide that I based the above section on: https://www.addictivetips.com/android/check-android-device-is-64-bit-or-32-bit/
My Phone is 32-bit, Can I make it 64-bit?
Not really.
If your Device has 32-bit CPU/SOC, then definite No. The 32-bit/64-bit is actually physically part of the device. The only way to change it to use a new device.
For those with Motorola devices and any other device with the combination of a 64-bit CPU and a 32-bit Kernel/OS, could be updated with custom firmware. The replacement/custom firmware may be rare to find. and depending on the custom firmware update could result in a banned Pokémon Go account. I'd check sites like XDA. The process will wipe your device memory.
Can I keep with my old versions of the App?
As a Online game, Saldy no. You need to be on the latest or very recent update to play.
What about the Apple iPhone?
This was an Android update, So no known changes to the Apple devices at this time.
(iOS 11 or later, with iPhones 6S or later are 64-bit, if you need to check.)
Personal Thoughts
I was half expecting this to happen at some point in the life span of the app given that it's going as good as has been. As that almost all phones today are 64-bit, it's going to have to happen at soon. Personally, I think the writing has been on the wall for some time that this was going to happen, especially PCs took the change. Google has required all developers have a native 64-bit app for any new/updated apps since 2018.
Out of my small collection of Android devices, only 3 of them are 64-bit, and a few of the others can't support Pokémon Go today. (Most of the devices I own are older devices, and a few of them are tablets.)
Last edited: